Fur storage appliance



Sept. 26, 1961 J. G. RAMEY FUR STORAGE APPLIANCE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 5, 1958 INVENTOR FIGS Sept. 26, 1961 J. G. RAMEY 3,001,380

FUR STORAGE APPLIANCE Filed Sept. 5, 1958 '5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J I CONDENSER CnNnluszR PRES; TANK 4 ExcH. l

"' ABS RBER '4 GEN E RATOR EXCHANGER J 32 INVENTORM} Sept. 26, 1961 J. G. RAMEY FUR STORAGE APPLIANCE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 5, 1958 United The present invention relates to a garment storage appliance, and in particular to a device which is adapted for the storage and preservation of fur garments. Fur storage is a widespread practice of business establishments and is generally done by cold storage or a type of air conditioning. These systems are efiicient for large vault areas; however, there is no known device for maintaining furs in small quantities in a special appliance which will keep them at optimum temperature and humidity levels. There is an obvious advantage to a fur owner in having her fur garments readily available at all times and stored under optimum conditions on a fulltime basis.

Four embodiments of the invention are disclosed in detail herein involving modifications in a basic design. It is to be understood, however, that the inventive idea may be carried out in other ways. This application is therefore not to be limited to the precise details shown, but is intended to cover all variations and modifications there: of falling within the spirit of the invention as defined in the scope of the appended claims.

I From a practical point of view, the size of the appliaims is limited by economic and space available factors. In most cases, the appliance will be of a size convenient to accommodate three fur wraps, such as coats, but it can also be considerably smaller and accommodate smaller pieces or folded garments, or larger to accommodate several additional garments.

In the past, fur garments have had to be either stored with a commercial firm or left to the possibility of moth damage, the drying out of the natural oils (which causes the skins to crack), and the collection of dirt and dust in the pores. Furs cannot have the natural oils replaced and are of value only so long as theyremain supple and retain their natural oils.

It is the prime object of the present invention to provide anovel fur storage appliance simple in construction, compact in size, and light in weight so as to be particularly adapted for use with a small quantity of finished fur garments and probably for use in a home. (It, or" course, could be used to store garments other thanfur such as cashmere, leather, etc.) V

. A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel fur storage appliance which provides convenient access directly to the for storage compartment thereof, which employs economical and readily available components, and which may operate with the greatest efiiciency.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a portable fur storage appliance which maybe easily transported from place to place and which may be adapted for installation in various areas and positions.

' Another object of the present invention is to provide a for storage appliance having a storage area of size sufficient to accommodate finished'fur pieces such as coats and the operating parts of which being placed in as convenient an arrangement as possible in relation to the storage area.

Yet another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a for storage appliance comprising a basic storage unit which can be associated with a refrigerating mechanism in a number of different manners to provide manufacturing economy. (In the illustrated embodiments a standardized fur storage unit is shown mounted alternatively at the interior or exterior of a conventes Patent tional household refrigerator and as part of a separate appliance having an individual refrigeration system.)

A further object of the invention resides in the. provision of a fur storage appliance which operates in a: very efiicient manner and which may be entirely self-..

contained.

Yet another object of the present invention is to devise such an appliance which will maintain a temperature of desired level to preserve the garments and will be insulated consistent with practical demands.

Yet another object resides in the provision of an appliance sealed to the extent that odors may not be transferred to the fur garments contained therein and so that there is a minimum leakage of cooled air.

And yet'a final object of the present invention is to make provision for a device to contain materials which will control the moisture and absorb odors which may be present in the appliance. 1

Further objects and advantages of the invention wil' become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize the inven: tion will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For

a complete understanding of this invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention wherein a for storage unit is mounted at the interior of a conventional household refn'gerato and utilizes the cooling system thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevationalview illustrating a second embodiment of the invention wherein the fur storage unit is disposed at the exterior of a conventional household refrigerator and utilizes parts of the cooling system of the refrigerator; FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIGURE 2 with a portion of the top wall of the for.

storage unit broken away. to illustrate the vdisposition. of the evaporator therein;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of a fur storage appliance having an integral refrigeration system to provide a readily portable unit with a portion of the access door broken away and with the front panel enclosing the refrigeration system removed; FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of an exemplary refrigeration system of the adsorption type for use FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view' illustrating the manner of attachment of the support hangers and rod to the storage unit;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the double-walled construction of the storage unit; and

, The fur storage unit 10 is shown as being provided FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view illus-- trating a receptacle for the humidity and odor control ence numeral 1 1, having the usual access door 12. The' storage unit 10 may correspond identically to the storage unit shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 and will be described in detail in connection with those figures.

have walls of a solid impermeable material such as' a The unit may plastic for preventing the transfer of odors from the food storage compartment of the refrigerator to the interior space of the fur storage unit.

Patented Sept. 26, 1961 with in FIGURE 3. The refrigeration system is normally cated below the food storage space of the refrigerator and is coupled to a main evaporator in the food storage area.

i In the embodiments of FIGURES 2 and 3, the fur storage u'nitflll may be disposed at one side of refrigerator 1'1 and evaporator of the unit may be coupled to the refrigerator system of refrigerator 11 and indicated by tubing 16 and 17. Inthis case, the storage unit will operate in accordance with the setting of the refrigerator to which it is attached. For example, tubing 16 may connect the inlet side of evaporator 15 with the inlet side of the main evaporator unit within refrigerator. ll, and tubing 17 may connect the outlet side of evaporator 15 with the outlet side of the main evaporator within refiigerator 11.

seen in FIGURE 2 evaporator 15 may comprise a sinuous tube disposed in. a vertical plane at the rear of the fur storage space and may be separatedfrom the fur storage space by means of a suitable guard or screen 18.

For controlling the humidity level and absorbing odors,

suitable materials such as silica gel and activated carbon may be inserted into a receptable 19 mounted on rearwall 20. of'the fur storage appliance. These materials may bemixed and containedina single cloth bag if desired. By way of example, the receptacle 19 may have a solid bottom wall 19a and permeable front and sidewalls such as. indicated: at 19b, 19c and 19d. The permeable walls may for example be. ofwire mesh construction. The

npperside-indicated at 19e of thereceptacle isopen to re ceive the humidity and odor controlmaterials. Preferably the openside of 19a of the'receptacle isdisposed directly beneath the evaporator: 15in such a manner that excess moisture condensing on the: evaporator. and falling therestorage space, a hanger bar 28 is mounted. at the top of the .storage space and may besecured to and extend transversely between side walls 29 and 36 generally atthe midpoint of the depth dimension of the unit. The hanger bar is ofrcourse adapted to receive conventional garment hangers. While in the majority of cases an individual will have only one or two fur garments to be suspended from bar. 28, the bar. 28 is preferably of sufiicient length to readily accommodate three fur wraps. of; storage space, a single storage .unit will satisfy the needs. of the majority of individual owners with maximum efliciency.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a storage unit 10 having anintegral refrigeration system diagramatically indicated at 31. contained within a housing'32 secured to the base of the The housing has a removable front panel (not shown) for enclosing the front side of the housing. The housing may have louvers in the side walls thereofas infloated at 33.

The unit of FIGURE 4 has the same internal arrangement as shown in FIGURE 2, including evaporator or cooling element 15, receptacle l9, and hanger bar 2-8. Additionally, since the appliance of FIGURE 4 is to be a self-contained system, it isprovided with suitable means for controlling operation of the refrigeration system. In

With this Width.

' 4 the illustrated embodiment, an on-otf control 34 and. a thermostatic control 35 are shown. The control 34 may be manually actuated to set the refrigeration system in operation and the control 35 may comprise a temperature sensing element in conjunction with an electric switch for maintaining the desired temperature level in the storage space. By way of example, the'temperature sensing element may comprise an expansible thermosensitive bellows system which may be adjusted to open an electric switch when the temperature of the ambient air falls below a preselected level. The reference numeral 36 designatm a conventional electrical cord for connection to the usual household outlet. I

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic showing of the refrigera tion system for the appliance of. FIGURE4 and shows one conductor of the cord 36 connecting to a terminal of on-oif switch 34. The other terminal of on-off switch 34 is connected by conductor 37 to the electric switch of thermostat control 35. When the oneoif switch and thermostatically controlled switch are closed, electric power is supplied to the refrigeration system. The system shown in FIGURE 5 is a conventional absorption refrigeration system well known in the art and has been illustrated as comprising a generator 40*, a separating vessel 41, an analyzer 42, an-air-cooled. rectifier 43, a condenser 44, a cooling element or evaporator 15, a gas heat exchanger 45, a pressure chamber. 46, an absorber 47, a condenser 43, and a liquid heat exchanger 50.

In the bag-type for storage appliance of FiG-URES' 6-9, a bag storage unit 66 is. provided witha series of. hanger elements 61, 62, and 63 for suspending the unit from a rod 64 of the type normally found in home storage areas such as closets. The hanger elements may extend through receiving apertures in. a top plate 65 which is preferably of rigid heat insulating material located Withinthe bag unit immediately below the top wall 66 of the unit. The elongated straight portion of. each of the.

hanger elements such as indicated at 61a in 'FIGUREJ is vertically slidablewith respect to the top plate 65 and top wall 66 and iszfixed-in the desired position by means of a spring clip..67.

As seen in FIGURES 6 and 8, thebag unit may com prise an outer bag 68 and an inner bag 69 preferably of. flexible plastic sheet material having an insulating air space 70 therebetween. The inner bag may be secured at its upper marginto plate 65 which may be of rectangular configuration corresponding to the cross section of:

the inner bag. If desired, suitable means may be provrded for spacing the top wall portion 66 ofouter bag. 68 above plate 65 to provide an insulating airspace at the top of. the unit.

. For providing access to the interior bag, the inner and: outer'bags are provided with a vertical slit at front-wall '71 which may be closed by a conventional zipper 72 hav ing a slide fastener 73. For convenience the inner and outer bags may be secured together at the margins of the slit so that the single zipper provides an opening through both the inner and outer walls simultaneously.

For supporting fur garments within the storage space of the unit, a support bar 74 may extend across the width of the bag beneath the top plate 65 and may be supported from the top plate-by means of brackets such as indicated at 75 in FIGURE 7. The support bar mayhave the same length. as described in connection with FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 9. illustrates a suitable receptacle 76 for re ceiving the humidity and odor control materials which may be those described in connection with FIGUREZ. The receptacle may comprise a pocket-like sheet of per-- forated plastic material secured to the inner surface of the inner bag 69.

For providing circulation of air within the storage space of the appliance of FIGURE 6, a partition wall 80 defines a vertical duct 81 at the rearvof the storage unit" which extends for the height of the unit and communi anoinaao cates with an aperture 82 in top wall 83a of the casing 83 of the cooling unit designated generally by the reference numeral 84. The wall 80 has an upper edge 80a terminating in spaced relation beneath the top.p1ate.65 so as to provide communication between the storage space and the vertical duct 81, as indicated by arrow 85.

The partition wall 80 may be secured to side walls such as indicated at 69a of inner bag 69 at its opposite side edges. The lower edge. of the partition wall 80 is disposed in alignment with and in close relation to upper edge 86a of evaporator plate 86. The plate 86 has a sinuous evaporator tube 87 thereon forlcooling air in the space between the rear Wall 83b and the evaporator plate 86 which extends across the width of the casing 83 between the opposite side walls thereof such as indicated at 83c.

The lower edge 86b of the evaporator plate 86 is spaced above the bottom wall of casing 83 to provide for the flow of cool air from the rear side of plate 86 under edge86b and into a space between the front side of plate 86 and an insulating wall 88 which extends across the entire width of casing 83 between the upper and lower walls thereof. This flow of cool air produces a circulation in which relatively hot air enters vertical duct 81 at the top thereof, flows downwardly through aperture 82, past evaporator coil 87,under the lower edge 86b of evaporator plate 86, and upwardly through aperture 89 of top wall 83a and into the storage space of the storage unit. The apertures 82 and 89'are formed by means of a rectangular slot 83d in top wall 83a of casing 83 which receives a tongue-like portion 86c of evaporator plate 86.

For detachably securing the cooling unit 84 with the bag storageunit 60, the outer bag 68is provided with a zipper runner 90 about its lower margin, and the casing 83 has a cooperating zipperrunner 91 about the perimeter of top wall 33a so that the lower portion of the bag when secured to runner 91 is held in predetermined fixed rectangular configuration. A slide fastener is indicated at 92 for selectively interlocking runners 98 and 91 about the length thereof. Similarly, inner bag 69 is provided with a zipper runner (not shown) about its free lower margin for selective interlocking engagement with inner zipper runner 93 extending about the perimeter of top wall 83a of casing 83 inwardly of zipper runner 91. When the inner bag lower margin is secured to zipper runner 93, it is maintained in a predetermined rec-tangular configuration in substantially uniformly spaced relation within the outer bag 68 so as to provide an insulating air space of uniform extent about the sides of the storage space. It will be understood that a slide fastener, similar to fastener 92, will be associated with the zipper runners for the inner bag and that the inner bag may be secured to runner 93 prior to securing of the .outer bag. to runner 91.

A suitable refrigeration unit such as illustrated in FIG- URE 5, may be housed within the casing 83 between the 'front wall 83c and the insulating wall 88. Insulating wall 88 serves to completely isolate this front space from the rear air circulation and cooling space. The front space may be provided with suitable means for promoting the dissipation of heat generated by the refrigeration unit and for example, side wall 83c and front wall 83c may be provided with louvers 94 and 95. A conventional electric power cord is indicated at 100 for supplying electric power to the refrigeration unit.

While several embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, the invention may obviously take additional forms and be variously applied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention;

1. As an article of manufacture, a fur storage appliance characterized by providing optimum and efiicient fur storage and preservation conditions for fur garments and immediate access to by the owner thereof, said appliance comprising a bag-like structure having an interior fur garment receiving space, said1structurehaving anvice in said interior storage space, fur garment supporting means carried by said appliance at the top of said fur l garment receiving space for supporting fur garments in said space, suspension means at the top exterior of said structure for suspending said appliance in a larger storage space of an individual dwelling, and refrigeration means connected as a unit with said structure and operative to maintain said fur garment receiving spaceat an optimum fur storage temperature.

2. A fur storage appliance comprising a bag-type unit formed of a pliant substantially air tight material and having interior storage space, a refrigeration unit com-- prising a casing having an evaporator therein and having means defining an air circulation passage extendingin heat transfer relation to the evaporator, means securing the bottom edge of the bag unit to said casing, means defining a vertical air duct adjacent said storage space and communicating therewith at the top of said duct, and means afiording communication between the lower'end of said duct and said air circulation passage and between said air circulation passage and the lower end of said storage space.

3. A fur storage appliance comprising a bag-type unit formed of a pliant substantially air tight material and having an interior storage space, a refrigeration unit comprising a casing having an evaporator therein and.

having means defining an aircirculation passage extending in heat transfer relation to the evaporator, means detachably securing the bottom edge of the bag unit to said casing, and means afiording communication between said storage space and said air circulation passage for cooling said storage space.

4. As an article of manufacture, a fur storage appliance characterized by providing optimum and efiicient fur storage and preservation conditions for fur garments and immediate access to by the owner thereof, said appliance comprising a bag-like structure formed of a double thickness of a pliant substantially air tight material having a substantially uniform air space of substantial extent therebetween, having an interior fur garment receiving space with an opening of vertical extent equal to at least a substantial proportion of the vertical extent of said. fur garment receiving space, fur garment sup porting means carried by said appliance at the top of said fur garment receiving space, a means for mounting a device to control humidity and odor in said interior storage space, suspension means at the top exterior of said structure for suspending said appliance in a larger storage space of an individual dwelling, and refrigeration means connected as a unit with said structure for cooling air in the interior of said bag unit.

5. As an article of manufacture, a fur storage appliance characterized by providing optimum and efficient fur storage and preservation conditions for fur garments and immediate accesss to by the owner thereof, said appliance comprising a bag-like structure having an interior fur garment receiving space, said structure having an opening of vertical extent of the fur garment receiving space for accommodating ready insertion and removal of a fur garment with respect thereto and having means providing selective closure of said opening, means for mounting a humidity and odor controlling device in said interior storage space, fur garment supporting means carried by said appliance at the top of said fur garment receiving space for supporting fur garments in said space, suspension means at the top exterior of said structure for suspending said appliance in a larger storage space of an individual dwelling, and absorption refrigeration means connected as "a 'unitwith said structure and operative to maintainsaid'fur garment receiving space at an optimum storage temperature.

6'.- As an article of manufacture, a fur storage appliance characterized by providing optimum and efficient fur storage and preservation conditions for fur garments and immediate accessto by the owner thereof, said appliance comprising a bag-like structure having an interiorv fur garment receiving space, fur garment supporting means carried by said appliance at the top of said fur garment receiving space, V and means whereby said supporting means is adjustable for'mounting said appliance with the bottom thereof resting on the floor of a larger storage space, and 'Wi'iha refrigeration-means connected at the lower end of the bag-like structure.

7. A fur storage appliance comprising a bag-type unit formed of a pliant substantially air tight material having an interior storage space, the bag-type unit formed'of adouble thickness ofa pliant substantially air tight material having a substantially uniform air space of substantial extent therebetween, ha'ving free lower margins, a casing having refrigeration means therein, and means for detachably securing said casing'with the lower margins of" said thicknesses of material comprising zipper means along each of said lower margins.

8. As an article of manufacture, a for storage ap pliance comprising a bag-type unit formed of a substantially air tight material and having an interior storage space, a refrigeration unit enclosed in a casing, means afi ording communication between said storage space and said refrigeration unit for cooling said storage space,

and means detachably securing said refrigeration unit to; said bagunit.

9': As an article of manufacture, a fur storage appliance comprising a bag'stype unfi -having. arr-interior? storage space, and a refrigeration means enclosed in a3 casing, means securing the bag unit to saidcasing, and: means aliordingcornmunication between said b agJIHit-J;

and-said refrigeration means.

l0. Asan article of'manufacture', .a fur storage pliance comprising a'bag-type unit formed of a pliant substantially air tight material having an interior storage space, free lower margins, a' casing having refrigeration means therein, and means for detachably securing said casing with the lower margins of said material.

1.1. A fur storage appliance comprising a bag-type unit formed of a pliant substantially air tight material having an interior storage space, the bag-type unit formed of a .double thickness of a pliant substantially air tightz material having a substantially uniform air space of.

substantial extent therebetween, having free lower margins, a casing having. refrigeration means therein,v and means for detachably securing said casing with the lower margins of said thicknesses of material along eachcf' said lower margins.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Leonard on; 5, 1909 

